The European Parliament (EP) Committee on Fisheries gave its consent to conclude the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the EU and Morocco, a development welcomed by European fisheries body Europêche which sees an agreement as promoting sustainable and responsible fisheries for the EU and Morocco, securing mutual benefits, and contributing to the strict observance of international law.
In the light of the ongoing uncertainty around the UK’s expected departure from the European Union in two months, the European Commission has adopted legislative proposals designed to soften the blow of Britain crashing out of the EU in a No Deal outcome.
The keel of the first of a series of new trawlers for the Russian Fishery Company has been laid at the Admiralty Shipyard, part of the United Shipbuilding Corporation, in St Petersburg. The yard has also begun cutting steel for a second vessel, and the first pair of trawlers are expected to be delivered in the first half of 2020.
Spanish electronics supplier Nautical has appointed Carmelo Zabala as its new managing director with immediate effect.
An order placed by fishing group Norebo with the Severnaya Verf (Northern Shipyard) in St Petersburg for six trawlers has been boosted with an additional four of these 81 metre factory vessels. The additional four 170710 project trawlers are to be delivered 2020-2023.
HB Grandi’s freezer trawler Örfirisey is now fishing in the Norwegian zone of the Barents Sea, and according to skipper Ævar Jóhannesson, they started fishing on 6th January after a four days’ steaming from Iceland.
Wärtsilä will provide both the design package and the main engine and propulsion for a new pelagic vessel to be built in Spain for Scottish owners.
Boulogne trawler skipper Olivier Lepretre, who also serves as vice-president of France’s CNPMEM Fishermen’s Committee and president of the Hauts-de-France Regional Committee, has stated that a hard Brexit would have severe consequences – and makes it clear that if this happens, French fishermen will have nothing to lose by taking action.
A report by Iceland’s National Audit Office has been making waves after it criticised the Directorate of Fisheries, throwing doubt on the effectiveness of much of the Directorate’s activities in monitoring discard levels, and more, following an audit carried out at Parliament’s request.
European small-scale fishing body LIFE has called on MEPs to reject amendments 10, 19, and 39, which it claims will expand the definition of small-scale fisheries and create an uneven playing field across Europe. According to LIFE, the simple definition of under 12 metres and fishing with passive gears offers a basic clarity and comparability across the EU.